Textile spool



R. ATWOOD Aug. 21, 1951 TEXTILE SPOOL Filed April 14, 1948 INVENTOR9/74/50 6 /71 0 q/ BY Patented Aug. 21, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICETEXTILE SPOOL Rawson Atwood, Garden City, N. Y.

Application April 14, 1948, Serial No. 20,902

"13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in spools.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with providing a textilespool or bobbin of improved construction in which a flange is securelyinterlocked with a barrel end and which may be manufactured simply andeconomically from components which do not require riveting or similarmethods of attachment and hence may be made of a variety of materials,such as non-ductile metal, synthetic resins and the like.

For a full understanding of the invention, a detailed description of abobbin embodying the invention in a preferred form will now be given inconnection with the accompanying drawing and the features forming theinvention will then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in central longitudinal section as to the upper partthereof and in elevation as to the lower part thereof, of a bobbinembodying the invention in a preferred form;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the bobbin of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of a snap ring employed for holding theparts together; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to the upper part of Fig. 1, but showing theparts in exploded relation, so as to illustrate the method ofassembling.

The invention is shown as applied to a bobbin in which the constructionat both ends is the same. However, the invention is also applicable tosingle flanged spools or pirns and may be applied to one end of a doubleflanged spool where desired. a

The bobbin comprises a barrel I (Fig. 1) and end flanges 2, these partsbeing held in assembled relation by means of a bearing plug 3, splitring keeper 4 and drive ring retainer 5 as more particularly describedbelow. The barrel is formed with a shoulder 6 against which the flange.

2 is seated. Beyond the shoulder 6 the barrel I and flange 2' have,respectively, outer and inner surfaces 1 and 8 of substantially equaldiameter. Toward the middle of the cylindrical reduced section 1 of thebarrel, the barrel is formed with a recess in the form of a peripheralgroove 9 which receives a keeper in the form of a split ring 4. Theflange is formed with a shoulder I0 above the cylindrical section 8 andwith an enlarged aperture having a cylindrical wall H of larger diameterabove this shoulder, the parts defining annular spaces which accommodatepart of the ring 4 and also accommodate the drive ring 5. The insidediameter of the barrel is enlarged somewhat at the end, forming aninternal shoulder l2 and the cylindrical bearing plug 13 is driven intothe barrel so as to seat against the shoulder [2, as shown. The bearingplug has a central bore l3 serving as a bearing for a spindle or similarelement and may be formed with driving connections for drive lugs or thelike Wherever desired.

The bobbin may be formed of any desired materials having the requisitemechanical strength and characteristics of rigidity and flexibilityrequired by the functions thereof. Various plastic materials may beemployed, but the invention is not limited thereto, it being obviousthat the various parts can be constructed of wood, metal or othermaterials to suit particular conditions.

The barrel, flange and other parts may be formed to the shapes shown byturning operations or by molding operations as convenient. The splitring 4 is preferably formed so that, when relaxed, it will have the formshown in Figure 3 and may be dropped over the end of the barrel,assuming the position indicated in Figure 4. The relaxed inner diameteris then larger than the barrel end, while the peripheral measurementinside the ring is substantially the same as the periphery at the bottomof groove 9. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the ring 4 has an inner portion20 shaped to fit the recess or groove 9 of the barrel, which in thiscase is rectangular in cross section, and an outer portion 2| which isbeveled for cooperation with a corresponding inner bevel 22 of theretainer or drive ring 5. Drive ring 5 is otherwise shaped to fit theopen space between barrel I and flange 2, so that, when the spool isassembled, the drive ring 5 and split ring 4 substantially fill all theopen space, providing a practically solid end construction. The innerlength of the snap ring 4 is preferably substantially equal to thecircumference of the barrel at the inside of the groove 9 so that whenthe snap ring is forced inwardly into this groove its ends will be incontact or will fail to make con tact by only a small clearance. Withthe parts in assembled position, the drive ring 5 may seat against theshoulder IE], as shown, or may have a slight clearance therefrom so asto permit driving the split ring 4 inwardly under desired pressure.

The bevel angle for the split ring 4 and drive ring 5 is preferablyselected with reference to the function coefiicients of the materialsused and with reference to the force required to drive the snap ringinwardly, so that the construction is self-locking. A driving fit of thedrive ring 5 between the barrel end and the cylindrical surface II isalso preferably provided so as to close up gaps in the end of the spooland hold the parts firmly together. The bearing plug 3 supports andreinforces the end of the barrel against inward pressure created byforcing in of the split ring 4 and the driving fit of the drive ring 5.

The assembly of the bobbin of the invention is simple and will belargely obvious from the foregoing description of the parts. A indicatedin Figure 4, bearing plug 3 and flange 2 are slid into place axially ofthe barrel I, and snap ring 4 is dropped in as indicated. Then drivering 5 is dropped in and driven home, completing the construction. Whilenot ordinarily necessary, any of the contacting surfaces may be coatedwith adhesive, for more securely joining the parts.

All the parts described have been shown as formed integrally fromhomogeneous material. This is not inherent in the invention, however, asany of the parts may be composed of two or more members suitablyfastened or fitted together and such members may be of the same ordifierent materials. While it is preferred that the snap ring 4, when inrelaxed condition, have an inner opening large enough to permit it to bedropped over the barrel end, this is not essential to the invention inits broader aspect, as a snap ring of smaller relaxed inner diameter maybe used and the ring may be expanded in passing it over the end of thebarrel.

The fit of the parts will normally be tight enough to prevent relativeturning movement between the plug 3 and barrel l and between the barreli and flange 2. Where required, however, longitudinal ribbing andgrooving for preventing relative rotation may be provided. Suchexpedients being well known in the art and forming no part of thepresent invention, they are not shown herein.

' What is claimed is:

1. A spool comprising, in combination, a barrel having a circumferentialgroove adjacent its end, a split ring fitting within the groove andprotruding outwardly therefrom to form a shoulder, a flange having aninner aperture fitting around the barrel inwardly of the groove, ashoulder on the flange engaging under the shoulder formed by the splitring and an enlarged central aperture beyond the same, and a retainerfitted into the enlarged aperture of the flange for holding the splitring within the groove and keeping the flange on the barrel.

2. A spool according to claim 1, in which the split ring has a beveledouter rim and the retainer engages against the beveled outer rim forforcing the Split ring into the groove.

3. A spool according to claim 2, in which the retainer is formed with aninner rim of corresponding bevel to the split ring and the retainer andsplit ring substantially fill the barrel groove and enlarged aperture ofthe flange.

4. A spool according to claim 1, in which the split ring is a ring witha single split, has a relaxed inner diameter as great as the barrel forslipping thereover and an inner periphery substantially equal to thecircumference at the base of the groove.

5. A spool according to claim 4, in which the split ring has a beveledouter rim and the retainer engages against the beveled outer rim forforcing the split ring into the groove.

6. A spool according to claim 5, in which the retainer is formed with abeveled rim of corresponding bevel to the split ring and the retainerand split ring substantially fill the barrel groove and enlargedaperture of the flange.

'7. A spool comprising, in combination, a barrel having an end ofreduced diameter forming a shoulder for receiving a flange and acircumferential groove in the reduced end, a flange seated on the barrelshoulder and fitting around the reduced barrel end between the shoulderand groove, the flange having a shoulder registered with the inner wallof the groove and a central aperture of larger diameter than the reducedbarrel end beyond the shoulder, a split ring fitting in the groove andprotruding therefrom to form a shoulder overlying the flange shoulder tohold the flange in seated position on the barrel shoulder, and aretainer fitted in the enlarged central aperture of the flange forholding the split ring in the groove.

8. A spool according to claim '7, in which the split ring has a beveledouter rim and the retainer engages against the beveled outer rim forforcing the split ring into the groove.

9. A spool according to claim 8, in which the retainer is formed with aninner rim of corresponding bevel to the split ring and the retainer andsplit ring substantially fill the barrel groove and enlarged aperture ofthe flange.

10. A spool according to claim 9, in which the split ring is a ring witha single split, has a relaxed inner diameter as great as the barrel forslipping thereover and an inner periphery substantially equal to thecircumference at the base of the groove.

11. A spool according to claim 10, in which the split ring has a beveledouter rim and the retainer engages against the beveled outer rim forforcing the split ring into the groove.

12. In a spool and in combination, a barrel having an end of reduceddiameter forming a shoulder for receiving a flange and a recess in thereduced end, a flange seated on the barrel shoulder and fitting aroundthe reduced barrel end between the shoulder and recess, the flangehaving a shoulder registered with the inner wall of the recess and acentral aperture of larger diameter than the reduced barrel end beyondthe shoulder, a keeper fitting in the recess and protruding therefrom toform a shoulder overlying the flange shoulder to hold the flange inseated position on the barrel shoulder, and a retainer fitted in theenlarged central'aperture of the flange for holding the keeper in thegroove.

13. A spool according to claim 12, in which the keeper and retainer areformed with corresponding bevels whereby the retainer forces the keeperinto the recess.

RAWSON ATWOOD.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date McConnel et a1. June14, 1932 Number

